I usually do not voice my opinion on these types of issues because I don’t want to step on any toes or start any arguments, but I can no longer resist. I have seen too many shootings and a lot innocent lives have been taken lately. I can no longer bite my tongue.

I open my Twitter app, scroll through my newsfeed, and all I see is hatred. I see hatred towards what color our skin is, the color of our eyes and the color of our hair. It doesn’t stop there. There is hatred of not only physical appearances, but the hatred for whom we love. The only thing that matters is who we are as human beings. Why can’t we understand that?

I understand we are all raised and brought up a certain way, but we have a choice of which side we want to choose. I also understand we have morals of our own and we are entitled to our own opinion, but when that opinion is hostile, that is where an issue is created. Who you love and what you think is none of my business and vise versa. If someone shares personal information with you that you don’t agree with, is it that hard to just not be rude? If a person doesn’t agree with who you love or what you do, is it that hard to be OK with that?

There is no reason to kill or be mean. What we are isn’t something that should be judged. What matters is what’s in our hearts. I am ashamed to admit that I was scared to give a man my food who held a sign that said “Hungry” on the side of the street because I was scared he might pull a gun out and shoot me or rob me. I said a quick prayer to myself. I handed him the bag and then he smiled at me and said, “God bless you.” At that moment, I was the happiest I’ve been in a long time.

I was scared of his appearance, but he was ever so grateful for me, and for that I try so hard not to judge anyone by what they look like. We bleed the same blood and beat the same heart. Those two things should only matter, not what is on the outside.

Love is love and we have to accept it. You should want to accept it. Sure, money can buy happiness. A new purse, a new car, and new clothes are awesome, but that kind of happiness only lasts so long. My simple act of giving my food to that man, two months ago, still makes me genuinely happy to this day.

If we work on trying to be happy for people and love them for who they are and not where they come from or what they look like we can change this world. I am not only disgusted from all the hatred, shootings, and killings; I am tired of it. I believe we should look at people from the inside and you and I could change this broken world.